Smoker&#39;s accessory



July 10, 1951 R. LINNARD 2,560,230

SMOKERS ACCESSORY Filed Oct. 2l, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. I [RVJN R L INMCIRD HTTORNEY,

July 10, 1951 l. R. LI'NNARD 2,560,230

SMOKERS ACCESSORY Filed Oct. 21, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR.

IRI/IN RLJNNHRD HTTORNEK Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATE S PATENT @FFME 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an accessory particularly designed and adapted for the convenience and enjoyment of smokers.

More particularly, the invention relates to a novel form of cigarette container in combination with an ashtray provided with an auxiliary receptacle into which refuse from the tray may be periodically and automatically deposited each time the cigarette container is opened yfor the selection of a fresh cigarette by the smoker. The invention cleverly incorporates these principles in a device simulating the antique or miniature style of coffee grinder which is customarily used as a bibelot or table piece.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a novel form of device which in a single motion conveniently presents fresh cigarettes to the smoker and removes ashes and spent cigarettes from an ashtray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of getting cigarettes by the novel method of turning a crank as in the operation of a coffee grinder.

Another object of the invention is to convert the normally decorative antique coffee grinder into 'an object havingr` utilitarian value. The invention is concerned with many novel details of construction and arrangements and combination of parts for effectively attaining the ends stated in -a practical and efficient manner, as will be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of `a particular form of cabinet embodying the principles of the I invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device depicted in Figure 1.

Figure '3 is a partial vertical section taken on thefline 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly broken away and show-ing the ash and cigarette receptacles in Y open position.

Figures 5, 6, and 7 show operating elements of l the device illustrated in the preceding figures.

rated in a structure simulating the old form of coffee grinder. Although the invention is shown embodied in a particular form, which itself possesses novel features, it is to be understood that this form is mainly for illustrative purposes and that the invention may take many other forms and shapes and various changes may be made in the structure thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings, the front wall of a cabinet or frame l0 is provided with rectangular openings Il and I2 to accommodate a pair of drawers Ill and l5. It will be observed that the upper drawer Id, forming a receptacle for ashes, butts and the like, is somewhat smaller than the lower drawer l5, which forms a receptacle or humidor for fresh cigarettes and/or cigars. Mounted upon the top of the cabinet or frame lu is a primary ash tray or receptacle i6 having an internal form and configuration similar to the funnel or hopper inlet of a coffee grinder. That is to say, the interior of the primary ash receptacle I6 as shown particularly in Figure 8, is shaped in the manner of a funnel near the top but tapers more sharply toward the center on one side and is inclined downwardly beyond the center to terminate in a semi-circular opening or outlet il in the bottom of the hopper as viewed best in Figure 2. The opening il in the receiver i6 registers with Van opening i9 in the top of the cabinet ill of the same shape as opening Va' as shown in Figure 3. It is apparent that the interior surface of the hopper or receiver it is Shaped so that ashes, butts and the like will gravitate downwardly to the opening il.

, A bearing or sleeve 2t is mounted in thetop of cabinet IEB and extends through the inclined portion of 'receiver IS. An operating handle 2i is revolvably supported in said sleeve by a flange or nut 22 'provided on the said handle. Carried by the lower end of the operating handle 2l and disposed above the drawer it or secondary ash receptacle is a gear plate 23 secured to said operating handle by a screw 241 which passes through `an opening 25' formed in said plate. Recesses 2t are formed in the cabinet I0 for the periphery of the Ygear plate 23. The gear plate 23 has 'a semi-circular opening 2l adapted to coincide or register with the outlet Il and the opening I9 in the top of the cabinet it. The opening I9 is provided with a guide ring 28 which confines ashes in the receptacle I6 to the area of the gear plate 23 directly adjacent the semi-circular opening 2l until said opening is brought into register with 2,560,236 'A L f the opening I9 and the outlet I1 on rotation of the operating handle 2 I. The drawer I4 forming an auxiliary ash receptacle is slidably mounted on a partition 29 directly below the plate 23.

A vertical gear 30, having an opening 3| for a screw 32 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 33 disposed on the rear Wall of the cabinet I0. A `further gear 34, having a pin 35, is rotatably mounted on the bottom of the cabinet I directly below the gear plate 23. The side walls of the cabinet I0 are provided near the bottom with recesses 36 and guide plates 31 for the gear wheel 34. The gear 23 is in mesh with the gear 34 so that rotation of gear 23 in turn rotates gear 34 through the vertical gear 30. The cigarette containing drawer I5 is provided with a partition Y36 as shown in Figure 2 to form a slot 31 for the pin 35 of the gear 34 which is disposed directly beneath the drawer I 5.

In use of the device described above, the operating handle 2i is normally disposed in the position shown by dotted lines in Figure l, with the opening 2l in the gear plate 23 out of register with the outlet I7 of the ashtray. In this position, the cigarette containing drawer I5 is in fully closed position to preserve the cigarettes, cigars, smoking tobacco, etc., in a fresh condition. After ashes and cigarette butts have been deposited in the ashtray it, the handle 2I is rotated 180 degrees to the position shown in Figure 2, causing the contents of the ashtray to be discharged into the drawer or auxiliary receptacle I4 and simultaneously, through gear plate 23, gear 30, gear 3d and pin 35, moving the cigarette containing drawer I5 to fully open position.

The smoker may then secure fresh cigarettes or the like from drawer I5 and rotate the handle 2|, 180 degrees in the opposite direction to close the drawer I5 and to close the opening or outlet Il' in the bottom of the ashtray I6. It

is obvious that by these means, the action of securing fresh cigarettes automatically removes spent ones and ashes from the ashtray. This provides a very convenient arrangement and avoids the necessity of frequently cleaning the ashtray during the course of a conversation or the like, when a number of cigarettes may be consumed. Moreover, it provides a convenient and amusing way of securing cigarettes by the action of turning a crank.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figure 9 where the operating handle 2I is formed into a crank 38, the lower end of which is adapted to operate in a slot 39 formed in a plate 40 secured in the rear end of the cigarette drawer I5 by screws 4I. In this case, a circular plate 42 is provided with a semi-circular opening 43, similar to the opening 27 in the gear plate 23 and formed with a central opening for the handle 2I to which plate 42 is welded or otherwise secured. The crank 3S moves in an opening formed in the member 29 (not shown). The operation of this form is similar to the operation of the previous form in that the outlet I'I is closed by the side of plate 42 opposite from the opening @3 when the cigarette containing drawer I5 is closed. In this case, however, the handle 2l need only be moved a short distance to empty the ashtray and open the cigarette container I5.

I claim:

1. A smokers accessory of the character described comprising a frame, an ash receptacle on the frame, a movable closure for periodically removing ashes from said receptacle, a container for fresh cigarettes slidably mounted in the frame and means operably connecting the cigarette container with the Vclosure to eliminate ashes from said receptacle when fresh cigarettes are presented. l'

2. A smokers cabinet comprising a frame and an ashtray mounted upon said frame, an ashdrawer disposed in said frame below the ashtray for receiving refuse from said tray, a second drawer for holding fresh cigarettes below the ashdrawer, a closure between the ashtray and the ashdrawer and means for operating said closure to transfer ashes to the ashdrawer and means operably connecting said last means with the cigarette drawer to cause said drawer to move outwardly and display cigarettes and at the same time, remove ashes from the said tray.

3. A smokers cabinet comprising a frame and an ashtray mounted upon said frame, a drawer disposed in said frame below the ashtray for receiving refuse from said tray, a second drawer for holding fresh cigarettes Vbelow the ashdrawer, a closure between the ashtray and the ashdrawer and means for operating said closure to transfer ashes to the ashdrawer including a gear plate beneath the ashtray rotatably mounted on the frame and having an opening therein, a crank handle for rotating the gear to bring said opening beneath the ashtray to eliminate said refuse therefrom and gear means operably connecting said rst gear with the cigarette drawer to move said drawer to open position when the crank handle is actuated to bring said opening beneath the ashtray.

4. A smokers cabinet comprising a frame and an ashtray mounted on the frame, a plate having an opening therein rotatably mounted beneath said tray and an operating handle to bring the opening beneath the tray to eliminate refuse therefrom, a cigarette containing drawer slidably mounted in said frame, the lower end of said operating handle being formed into a crank and operatively connected with the cigarette drawer so that movement of the operating handle moves the cigarette drawer to open position presenting fresh cigarettes to the smoker and at the same time brings the opening beneath the ashtray to empty the same.

IRVIN R. LINNARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Y Name Date 1,033,977 Aronson July 30, 1912 1,208,766 Frederick Dec. 19, 1916 1,804,163 Herold May 5, 1931 2,111,480 Pawlitschek Mar. 15, 1938 2,231,790 Andress Feb. 11, 1941 

